There were 6 Dragon Slayers in attendance, a wizard saint, the General of the Knights order, two powerful Ambassadors and Kurino glared them all down as Cristoff froze, eyes narrowing on his crown princess, arms tightening around his new husband protectively.
It shocked everyone, and possibly the man himself most who spoke first.
Freed pushed away from Cristoffs chest "You honestly have no right Princess." He said coldly then leaned down to meet his mates stunned eyes "Put me down my Dragon." He said softly and Cristoff, blinking, set him on his feet and Freed stepped out of his arms and faced Kurino.
"Oh you've no idea about my rights, that man is mine, he is not free to marry another!" Kurino snarled and Freed would admit she cut an impressive figure standing in her gold and gem encrusted veil dress with shimmering silks dotted with more precious gems, her crown resting on her forehead, her green eyes blazing with fury.
"Princess, this couple has gone through all of the ceremony, all of the rites, including full immersion in Immaculate light as is required to claim a Knight of this order." Tesso said firmly, because ultimately, any claim Kurino thought she had would be overthrown by the fact Cristoff was a Knight, and to claim him, immersion in the light was required and Kurino hadn't survived 20 minutes in the light when she'd last tried immersion in it.
"It doesn't matter if there was a former claim on him! MY claim taking him as my consort supersedes all others!" Kurino said defiantly, nodding toward one of her aids who scurried forward with some documents and put them into Tessos hands. Cristoff cringed "I really hate that fucking designation…"He growled under his breath, Freed touched his arm stepping then between him and Kurino and reached to Tesso who, after scanning over the documents handed them to him.
Freed looked it over, a Boscan claim by the crown Princess of Cristoff Pradesh as consort. It even lined out how many times a week Cristoff was to provide her with unprotected sex to provide her with children should she wish to have him father any. Freeds eyes narrowed as he read, then he smiled.
"Your claim is invalid, for more than one reason." He said firmly, handing the papers to Arman who was at his left side while Cristoff was on his right.
"Bullshit, My claim is perfectly valid, it was made before these ceremonies started." Kurino snapped.
"But not before Cristoff and I were promised and mated." Freed replied, tipping his chin up confidently his thumb in his left hand sliding over his rings, he could feel his mate almost better than he saw him at his side. Felt how proud he was of him and it made his confidence soar.
"Those papers state my intent to claim him as consort was recorded over a year ago." Kurino snapped but she was faltering and Freed saw it, eyes darting to Arman and Farron, especially Farron, the moment she saw the young Ambassador she almost paled.
"Irrelevant and you know it, intent not filed officially doesn't matter, and you STILL would have to spend a night with him in Immaculate light immersion in order to make this final, not to mention it REQUIRES his consent Princess, you can not enslave a Boscan citizen." Freed pointed out.
"He will consent." She stated lifting her chin and glaring at him.
"Like hell I will." Cristoff snapped back "I never wanted one second in your damn bed in the first place you blackmailed me and Kaleb both by threatening our family. You will NOT have me, not ever again Princess and this intrusion into a holy ceremony, this affront to the laws of our nation and it's very values? I am a happily mated and married free citizen of Bosco, a Knight of the very order that protects you and your family and yet you tortured me!" Cristoff snarled, Freeds arms around his waist the only thing stopping him from advancing on the Princess now.
"You forced me to your bed by torturing Kaleb then you tortured me and all because of some sick twisted obsession you have with my oldest brother!" He shouted. There were gasps, Xally who simply didn't know about any of it, having been away for school, Emzadi, whose eyes flared with magic, a low growl rumbling through her.
Laxus, Cobra, Lucy and Gajeel all backed it right up to, magic flared from every Dragon Slayer present.
"And I will do worse…" Kurino hissed, her own magic flaring but dark when it did, the guards at her sides all stepping forward. "You know better than this...Consort...and now, now you force my hand." Kurino smiled, lifting her chin.
"I will have you all in the dungeons beneath this temple for the rest of your lives...Tesso, the priest, I will simply end and you, your precious mate and Kaleb will live the rest of your lives chained to a bed for my enjoyment. Arman, it won't be easy explaining your sudden disappearance but don't you worry I can do it, and Farron…." She met his sky colored eyes and her hatred fell aside, replaced by raw need.
"Farron...you can prevent it all...if you marry me...take your place at my side, father my children I will make you King of Bosco and once our marriage is completed, final, I will release your family...I think…" She smiled as more of her guards, distinguished from the regular knights by their dark armor flooded onto the dais.
"We should talk." She snapped and two guards slammed heavy staffs onto the Dais just as Tesso shouted "NO!" and magic surged through the Dais beneath their feet, every one of them dropping, unconscious except for Farron, who stood in horror watching his family crumble to the tiles.
Farron barely caught his father as Arman went down, preventing him from hitting the ground hard and setting him down, glaring at Kurino and smiling viciously."Alright Kurino...lets talk." He said coldly.
He stood, looked over his family, all of them, everyone was out cold, the precision of the strike was impressive, he'd almost been touching Kaleb, the brothers carefully coming together, Erza on his other side pressing in trying to stand as tall as possible as guards had rushed in.
A shock spell, a very strong one, delivered right through the very tiles they stood on overlooking the grand courtyard of the temple several stories up.
He walked swiftly but ignored her held out hand, heading instead for the immersion chamber. "What are you doing?" Kurino demanded, she had fully intended to take him to one of the chambers behind her. Farron beckoned her "Closest magically silenced room, I want to get this over with." He snapped.
She waved a hand at her people "Make certain no Knights or anyone else come up here." She snapped, following Farron.
Once inside she closed the doors behind her, casting a dark glare at the massive lacrima in the center of the room.
"You make no sense at all." Farron said coldly when she looked at him, he was sitting on the back of one of the pews, arms crossed over his chest, looking amazing in the traditional Boscan suit he wore.
She would have loved to seen him in one embroidered in gold, with her ring on his finger, her band on his wrist and the realization that she might see that soon made her smile. "I want you, I've always wanted you, since you played in the gardens of the Palace with me as a child I've wanted you, dreamed you would be my husband one day and by whatever means I must go to, I will see that dream realized." She said.
"I'm no-one special Kurino, just another Boscan mage, perhaps I've had a good career in politics but that hardly justifies this, and how do you propose we marry? The law states YOU have to be sealed in the light to your husband and actions like this? These actions, these evil things you do...they will kill you, the light will tear you apart before we even go to the bed for the proving, and if you think I'd touch you before then? You are sorely mistaken, blackmail and threats against my family or not, until we are sealed I will not bed you. I would never lay with a woman the light refused, did it ever occur to you, even once, that you failing to survive the light, proving how dark your soul is, if you even have one anymore, might be why I always turned you away?" He demanded.
She glared "You refused to be the one who handled my induction when we were 13." She said. Farron stared at her.
"I said yes to that Kurino but I got sick, came down with Encan measles for Gods sake, I was bedridden for two months and your father didn't want to delay your induction so he picked someone else. He TOLD you that, hell I told you that, I've told you that every time you've brought that up." He scoffed.
"I...I never believed you, I still don't, you did my sisters induction. Three years later...she had you…" She spat.
Farron watched her closely, took everything in, she was behaving erratically, like she always did around him, he'd known when they were children she had a crush on him, but her childhood crush had turned into a dark obsession as she'd gotten older and he'd seen that, seen what all she had done, found her methods, her personality...too dark...too cold and harsh and he'd distanced himself from her.
"So would you lock your little sister in the temple dungeons because I had sex with her when I was 16?" His question rattled her, made her eyes widen.
"You think I don't know what you did to my last love interest? The professor at the University? Did you think I would believe for a moment she'd suddenly met and run off and married some unheard of Lord from Sin? I checked...I was relieved she was in fact alive, and in fact married, but I learned it was forced Princess, I got her away from there by the way." He added and Kurinos eyes narrowed but she didn't respond.
"You will marry me, today, I can fake the immersion…" She said and Farron scoffed "No...you try to fake that and I won't bed you, you can't force me to fuck you Kurino, nor can you bribe the watchers, that is one ceremony even you can't corrupt while your father is king." He said.
This was hard negotiation, something Farron was more than comfortable with, that it was so personal and so much rode on it for the people he held dearest, was why he had stacked the cards heavily in his favor and had to keep Kurino talking.
"He won't be king much longer Farron, so you had best stop thinking you can turn to him, you will be my husband, you will satisfy me in our bed, father our children and...in time...you will love me like you should." She said in a deadly tone.
"Or what? You'll chain me? I can't satisfy you, I don't even know if I could survive some of the sick things you do to the men you take. I've seen Kaleb after you were done with him, Cristoff too even with that insane healing his system can manage, did you think neither of them would turn to their family after you released them from "servicing" you?...I promise you, without some sort of drug, I won't be able to get the least bit aroused while I'm in fucking chains trying to stay conscious through you whipping me while you play with yourself." He sneered.
Kurino shrugged "I have other things I enjoy...you'll learn to love them all." She said.
"First time you lay me open with a whip I go to Altiene, first time you put me in chains, I go to Altiene, I will NOT endure your sick version of sex. Your father is a healthy man Kurino, he will be king long enough I can get myself and my family free of you." He told her.
"You will NOT, because he will not, I will see my father off the throne well before his health becomes an issue I promise you, and I will restore the Boscan empire with you, warming my bed. You will love me Farron, like you always should have, I swear." She sneered.
"How would you get Altiene off the throne? With dark intentions? Dirty looks? Altiene is no fool Kurino, and our people have voted down most of your proposed laws, the Steel Council was purged right after the war with Alvarez. Altiene is a great King, he'll likely rein for another 10 to 15 years at least." He said
"I don't give a damn about the votes, the Steel Council will be disbanded once I am queen." She snapped.
Farron narrowed his eyes "Disbandment of the council, the government representing the people, is not legal, Bosco adopted this system 300 years ago... what you're planning is High Treason Kurino, you could be hanged." He said carefully.
She scoffed "I can bring the people to heel, and once the council is gone the laws are easy enough to re-write as I see fit. I will not be some watered down ruler like my father or grandfather, the council was a terrible idea and one i intend to see ended, along with that damn thing!" She said waving toward the lacrima. "I will see that removed too!"
"You propose removing the immaculate light, ending it's involvement in the monarchy?" He asked.
"I'll have the damn thing destroyed, it's archaic, ridiculous! To think something like that could prevent me from getting the throne? No...I'll have it removed, the laws rewritten so no holy light can prevent a ruler from coming to power." She spat then narrowed her eyes "Or prevent a Queen from taking the man she wants as her husband...I will have you Farron...nothing will stop me from making you mine."
"You...threaten the light? Because you want to possess me like some sort of pet? Kurino, the Temple...the knights...this entire country was founded on the belief in the higher magic, the Holy Immaculate light and its blind purity, the ideals of our society come from it, you would throw Bosco into darkness? You would reduce us to nothing better than Seven..If I did agree to this, if I married you, should I expect you to kill me and start fucking our first born son like Queen Kressa?" He spit the words out, disgusted now.
Kurino sneered at him "If you don't keep me satisfied...who knows?" She hissed.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" The voice booming from above them had Kurino gasping, snapping her eyes upward in horror as Zen descended, bearing her father in his arms, long black wings stirring the air so her hair whipped around her face as she gaped.
"Kurino...you...you have become...dark...evil...my own daughter...you would strip this country of all it holds dear, no wonder the light killed you...after what I just heard I regret you were even resuscitated at all that day, it would have been merciful to let you die rather than become…" The King frowned, glaring at his daughter waving his hand, disgust filling his expression "whatever you are now. " He said.
"You are stripped of your title, your brother will make a far more suitable ruler for Bosco, effective immediately, GUARD!" He bellowed and doors flew open as the King ran his finger over the ring on his right hand.
Kurinos eyes widened "No! No father! I'm not wrong! You misunderstand what i was saying when you came in! I can make Bosco greater than it has ever been!" She cried. Knights in gleaming armor threw those in the dark armor to the ground, swords could be heard singing against swords outside the chamber.
Once several were present the King glared at his daughter "I heard every word, thanks to Zen, who rather unsettled me by snatching me right out of the courtyards in front of about a hundred knights and Farrons magic, channeling every word you said right to my ears, Gods no wonder you and your father are so damned brilliant in negotiations…" The king said, giving Farron an appreciative glance.
"You propose treason, the destruction of the base of every religion in Earthland...and dont think I missed the thinly veiled threats against my life...Kurino...Knights? Remove her, and i want her crown, her gown, she will not wear such things ever again, she does not deserve them. Throw her naked into the cell beneath this crystal and I will speak with the council about what will be done with the treasonous snake that used to be my daughter." Altiene said coldly and turned away from Kurino, ignoring her screams as the Knights rushed her, ripped the crown from her head and tore the veil dress from her body, bringing them to the king as she was dragged from the room.
"Father! Father no! PLEASE! Father!" She screamed and Altienes face remained stoney, back to her, eyes on the Crystal.
Kurino shattered then, tears streaming down her face "No! Father, don't turn your back to me! Father! No!" She screamed, looking wildly at all the priests and knights bearing witness to this but the King kept his back to her, eyes on the Crystal until Kurinos screams faded. By turning his back on her before these people, he had declared her removal from the royal family. She was disowned.
"I owe you...your family...and not for the first time but in this? Probably more than I want to even imagine. I...I will have her memories extracted...find out all of what she had planned...thank you Farron, Zen...oh and...I won't be having you beaten to death Zen…" He added with a faint smile, turning to the guards still coming into the chamber, the priests, aids.
"Your majesty…" The Kings aid breathed.
"James, see that my daughters staff, every single person is detained, every one of her personal guards as well. Make certain the Pradesh family is brought back around safely, it's a damn atrocity my former daughter ruined the wedding of my friends son…" He sighed.
It was several hours before everyone was awake again, the shock spell hit hard, temporarily severing a mage from their magic so they couldn't come to quickly.
Kaleb, not surprisingly, was the first awake, and came out into the chamber where he found Farron sitting drinking some tea. He stood, taking everything in as his older brother shared his memories and then sat heavily across from him.
"Well...fuck." He breathed, running his fingers through his hair and shaking his head in disbelief. "Yeah, you just share that with everyone, I don't want to try and explain it." Farron said and Kaleb snorted "Yeah I don't blame you."
"So…" Farron started and Kaleb smirked "Yeah...he likes her…" He said, his father had been so into his thoughts about Rowena Justine Kaleb could have danced on his damn head and he likely wouldn't have noticed.. He smirked at Farron then, beckoning him to follow and the two brothers crept back into the large chamber where beds had been brought for the Pradesh family to recover. The guards had been careful, placing Freed in the narrow bed with Cristoff, the Rune mage currently wrapped in the big slayers arms using one of his heavy biceps as a pillow.
Lucy was on top of Laxus, head tucked under his chin, one of his hands buried in her hair. As they crept in Zen was lifting a still unconscious Erza into his arms and carrying her to one of the large lounges where he sat with her and settled her securely wrapped in his was about impossible to see, surrounded by Iron Dragon Slayer. And at the back of the room, the guards had made an assumption and placed Rowena in the same bed with their father.
The petite woman was curled up into Armans side, one of her arms across his chest, her leg slung across his thighs, his arm held her there too, so both of them had adjusted in their sleep into the comfortable position they were in now.
Farron grinned at Kaleb who grinned right back, the brothers both thrilled at seeing it, Rowena pressed closer as they watched, nuzzling into their fathers neck and Arman turned toward her, rolling then to his side, arms closing around the small woman and making both brothers share a further excited look before they crept back out of the room, high fiving as they left.
Cristoff almost growled as his brothers voice disturbed his peace, then memory flooded him of what had been happening and he bolted up wide eyed.
Relax Cris, everything's ok, Is dad still cuddling with your mates mom? Kalebs voice intruded again and Cristoff snarled silently, glaring around the room looking for his older brother. His eyes fell on his father though, who was in fact, curled around Rowena and it wasn't in just a cuddly way, no, Rowenas hand was up his dads shirt and she was tucked up against his body, one leg slung over his hip. Arman wasn't much better, the arm under Rowena curled up and pressing her into his body, his own leg drawn up between her thighs and his over hand rested solidly on the womans ass.
Cristoff nudged Freed, once gently then he leaned down and grabbed his mates crotch making the Rune mage suck in a gasping breath and bolt up wide eyed. Cristoff clapped a hand over Freeds mouth to silence him, grinning and putting a finger to his lips, letting freed absorb the wicked glint in his midnight blue eyes and nod before releasing his mouth and nodding toward their parents.
Freeds eyes flew wide and he slapped his own hand over his mouth in shock before looking owlishly back at his mate.
Oh he's cuddling her, groping her ass and she has her hand up his shirt. He mentally chuckled back to Kaleb.
YES! Ok, yeah so Farron blackmailed me into sneaking a look into what Dad is feeling towards your mates mom there, he likes her Cris...likes her alot. Just reasoning she's got this big old life back in Fiore and he's so busy with work and all of us he's not going to do anything about how he feels, just like he did with fucking Minda. Kaleb told him.
Wait..ok, you and Farron are matchmaking? What the fuck happened with Kurino? Cristoff demanded then grimaced as Farrons memory of it all flooded him to the point he held his head in his hands, heard Freed gasping again and knew kaleb was hitting him with the same thing.
So, Kurino is out of the picture, hated her anyway, happy as fuck she's not going to become Queen, so on to the whole Dad situation, your mate really loves this by the way, loves the whole idea of Rowena with Dad, says his mom deserves it and I sure as hell think Dad deserves to have a good woman, he's refused to marry again because he's been so busy raising us. Farron voice now, Kaleb linking them together and the sluggish groggy mental growl of Emzadi joined them, followed by Vander, Bickslow, Xally, Zen, then Erza, Lucy, Laxus and Cobra.
Soon they were all silently chatting away, plotting and scheming, Bickslow creeping into the room to grin wildly at the sight of their father wrapped around Rowena.
Many ideas went back and forth until Kaleb silenced everyone.
Rowena is waking up, out out hurry! He said, making certain they all got out of the chamber except for Vander who was unceremoniously shoved inside under protest.
"He always fucking knows!" Vander objected before Kaleb and Cobra almost threw him through the door.
You're a top spy, be sneaky you shit!
Yeah fuck all of you, he finds me I'm taking you all down with me! Vander returned.
He slid to the shadows behind the far wall, hoping some distance would prevent his fathers uncanny sense for when he was around from picking him up.
Rowena curled her fingers, feeling warm smooth skin over firm muscle and pressed farther into the warm arms around her. The soft scent of spiced rainwater left her well aware of who was holding her. She'd dreamed these dreams alot over the last months. Spending so much time around Arman, eating meals with him, reading in his study while he finished up odds and ends for work before he'd join her for a walk on the beach to discuss plans for their respective sons.
She'd only ever known Abraham, had never been on a date, had never touched any man or been touched by a man other than Abraham. She'd honestly, never been kissed, not once. Abraham didn't like it.
She'd been an avid reader though, stuck up in Rosegarden surrounded by the romantic city of flowers and love, she'd done a lot of reading, watched her share of young couples in the gazebos that dotted the multitudes of Rose farms kissing and loving on each other and always wished in her heart of hearts she could have that, she could be loved, held, kissed, know what passion felt like. For once in her life be left breathless and happy by a mans touch.
Despite Abrahams assertions she had taken lovers she never had, she had honored the vows she took even though she had never even liked Abraham, let alone loved him, and she couldn't find in herself the hate and resentment she knew some women had enough of to ignore their vows and cheat on their husbands.
She saw it happen, some would come up to Rosegarden on vacations, their husbands believing their wives enjoying the spas and beautiful gardens when in reality they were meeting lovers for illicit affairs. The Baroness Durenda was there every couple of months with some new hot sexy young man wrapped around her. But Rowena had held steady, even when other Ladies chastised her for it, told her that her husband was regularly seen with some busty voluptuous thing. Abraham didn't even bother hiding his affairs the last 6 years, daring Rowena to confront him or say anything at all.
She was skinny, lacked large breasts and full hips, she had curves, but they weren't pronounced, and she liked to swim, run, ride horses and those things kept her slender and she refused to give them up. She had a little silver in her hair now, and unlike most women, saw no reason to hide it, she found the silver that was showing here and there in Armans thick locks sexy as hell too.
She dreamed what it would be like, to have him, a handsome charming loving man, to feel him hold her, kiss her and yes, she fantasized about making love with the Ambassador, running her hands over his body, feeling his on hers, Gods what would it be like? She'd read all about it, seen it, but never experienced it. Abraham was rough, almost hateful when he'd handled her, would smile when he'd bring her to tears while he'd take her. She imagined Arman was gentle...He was Boscan, he was probably an incredible lover.
Her hands smoothed over the warm skin beneath them, fingers tracing hard edges, finding a flat nipple and toying with it and her whole body thrilled when a soft moan escaped the man under her hands, her other hand was between them and she slid it up, pulling thick silky black and silver hair from the tie he kept it pulled back in.
Still convinced she was dreaming she pressed into him, tilting her head back to kiss along his jaw then humming softly when he moved in her arms at last, yes, finally, her dream would move into the good stuff.
"Ro...Rowena…" He breathed, voice husky with sleep and she smiled, stretching upward more and finally catching soft warm lips with hers. They were still for a moment and she started to frown, why would her dream Arman deny her?
But then his lips pressed into hers, moving, nipping, slanting and then deepening the kiss, his arms tightening around her, he pulled her over and she lay on top of him then, kissing him greedily. It felt so perfect, so soft and warm and her whole body was coming alive like never before.
"Rowena…" He whispered again and she hummed, kissing him silent again, sighing into him and his lips curved into a smile under hers "Rowena…" He mumbled against her lips and she frowned, why would he interrupt...she froze, eyes flying open and she gasped, trying to scramble back but her arm was under his shirt and his arms were wrapped around her securely.
"Oh...oh my Gods...Oh Arman...forgive me...I'm so...humiliated...I" She was trying to untangle herself but the Ambassador just tightened his hold and chuckled "Stop, stop Rowena...it's fine...I have a feeling I have children to discipline but you're fine." He insisted and she blinked down at him wide eyed. His smile took her breath away then "Besides...I liked it…" He whispered, hands sliding to her hips "I haven't woken up to a beautiful woman kissing me in a while." He admitted.
Her fingers flexed, gripping over where she'd been playing moments ago unconsciously and Armans eyes closed, his breath hissing through his teeth. "Ok...now I'm buying you dinner." He chuckled and she stared at him then realized what she had done, what her hand was clamping down over, digging her nails into the skin over his relatively thick pectoral muscle her palm pressing against the nipple she'd been toying with.
"Rowena...unless you plan to make a proposition? And given the fact this room only recently held all of our children and any of them could walk in any moment I would advise against the choice, you need to pull your hand out from under my shirt." He said gently and Rowena gasped, jerking her hand from under Armans silk shirt and blushing furiously when she realized she was now straddling the man, her modest dress hiked up nearly to her waist.
"Shh, it's ok Rowena...Kaleb is…" He stopped a moment, but was holding her hips now preventing her from getting off of him while he took in all Kaleb was relaying to him.
"Ah, Gods…" He frowned then, sitting up and to her utter shock, he pushed a hand into her hair, held her and kissed her, it was just a soft brush of his lips for a moment, she reminded herself he was Boscan, and kisses were used for so much, from greetings to sealing deals to reassuring and comforting people.
He set her gently to the side while he slid from the bed, quickly righting his shirt and closing the suit jacket before offering her his hand. She kept her eyes down, still blushing crimson, what on Earth had come over her! Why had she thought that was just a dream, his lips, body, responses, all of it had been far too real for her to ignore yet for some reason she had and couldn't understand why.
The reason why met his fathers eyes, so grateful Arman was honed in on the situation at hand he had to struggle not to look relieved when his father demanded to know where Altiene was. Kaleb nodded toward the open doors to the Immaculate Light chamber "He hasn't come out of there yet."
Arman nodded and hurried past his son, worried about the King after all Kaleb had shown him, especially when Kaleb told him the king had asked him to share a memory of one of the times the Princess had taken him to her bed.
He walked into the chamber and found Altiene sitting on the pew closest to the massive crystal. Holding his head in his hands, the King looked...tired.
"Altiene." Arman said softly and his friend looked up at him and shook his head.
"I thought, when my wife died, that it would be fine, you were already raising 5 children on your own by then, I was certain, as King, with my resources, I could handle three...I...I don't understand where it all went so...wrong." He sighed.
Arman sat beside him, eyes on the crystal like his friends now were.
"It was never easy, it still isn't, and parenting doesn't end when they grow up and move away on their own, I will be the father of my children, the one they look to until the day I die. I was blessed, I like to think Ganier was guiding the children at times, especially Zen who went through so damn much." Arman said.
"Yet all eight of yours are good people Arman, all of them, I'd trust my life to any Pradesh without hesitation, but my daughter...Gods...what she did to Kaleb...what she was trying to do to Farron, and this country...to me…" His voice trailed off.
She's old enough to make choices of her own Altiene, and the pressures on her were considerable from a young age...perhaps she just was never meant to hold up under them, better to know now than have her become Queen first." He said.
Altiene scoffed. "I'd like your sons to help me, Kaleb and Bickslow, I know they can get through her memories, find out what she was planning...maybe tell me what went wrong...I could ask Knights, I do have some that could do it, but...I trust Kaleb, and I believe I can trust Bickslow, that they'll be honest with me, and Kaleb can...share what he pulls from her...so I can see for myself. He really is extraordinary Arman...Bosco has no mindbender anywhere near as gifted as he is."
"He'll be glad to help Altiene, he's going to talk to Bickslow now, if you want, they'll handle this tonight for you." Arman replied. Altiene nodded, lifting a hand to summon an aid who rushed to him.
"See Master Kaleb and his brother Bickslow to Kurino, make certain she is properly restrained, full magic canceling cuffs, everything, before they go in with her, give word they are to have every access by my command." He said and the aid bowed "Yes your majesty."
Altiene and Arman stared at the crystal for a few minutes.
"Pretty woman there...the older one...who is she?" Altiene asked. Arman eyed him suspiciously.
"Lady Rowena Justine, my new son in-laws mother from Fiore." He replied cautiously.
Altiene didn't look at him, smiling at the crystal. "She married?"
Arman narrowed his eyes. "Divorced, her husband is in prison, likely for the rest of his life...what are you getting at Altiene?" He demanded.
"Nothing...nothing at all. Just if you have no interest and she's free I might like to invite her to the palace for dinner…" He said.
"I have an interest." Arman growled and Altiene smiled at him "Bout damn well time you did, holy hell Arman if you'd let this one slip away without at least some nice hot sex I'd have you admitted to the monastery where celibacy is celebrated."
Arman rolled his eyes "You're worse than my children, who I need to rake over hot coals soon to find out if they put Rowena up to acting out of character a little while ago. And for the record I DO enjoy regular sex thank you, Gods above, I rarely go a week even when I'm travelling while working for your ungrateful ass." He snapped.
Altiene laughed, a nice deep one too, shaking his head and clapping a hand on Armans shoulder. "You know...I thank the Gods for you and your family about as often, maybe there's a correlation, let me know when you lay the pretty Fioran Lady and we'll see if I've got some new reason to be grateful of you at the same time." Altiene chuckled.
"I am not telling you if or when Rowena and I share a bed, and you'd best not be sending spies to look in and check because I have Vander at home and I swear to the Gods Altiene I'll have him dump them all in a heap at your feet." Arman said firmly and Altiene just laughed more, Armans lip twitching and his wickedly amused green eyes the only hints at his own levity.
Given what everyone was facing in the coming hours, they needed all they could get.